04 Dec 2019
Pharrell's Toronto tower, Untitled, will be parametric, natural and universal
BY Stu Robarts
Untitled Toronto, the residential tower designed by musician Pharrell Williams in collaboration with IBI Group and U31, will combine parametric design, natural elements and "universal spaces" intended to act as a backdrop for the lifestyles of its residents.
The development will comprise two towers with a shared podium and was inspired by the concept of a jugalbandi – a performance in Indian classical music featuring an intricate duet between two solo musicians.
In this instance, lead architect at IBI Group Mansoor Kazerouni sought to intertwine the design of the building with Pharrell’s song Gust of Wind, shaping the balconies to match the song's waveform.
Kazerouni said: “We arrived at the concept fairly early in the process and worked with Pharrell to select a song that really meant something to him and could help bring this idea to life. There is a sophisticated, elemental feel to the building, which is why Gust of Wind works so well.
"Once we had the song, there was a lot of testing and iterating to find the right notes that would produce the most fluidity. What’s cool is as you go around the building, no two faces are the same. They all represent different moments from Gust of Wind."
The tower houses 751 condominium suites ranging from studios to three bedrooms, while a separate, adjacent building that is also part of the new development will house 413 homes split between affordable housing, mid-range and market units.
Residents at Untitled will have access to 32,000sq ft (3,000sq m) of amenities, including a wellness centre with a spa and an indoor-outdoor pool, a co-working garden lounge, a screening room, a kids club, a rec room, a social lounge and a private dining space with a sake tasting area.
The interior spaces were designed by Kelly Cray of U31 to convey a sense of universality.
Cray explained: "The palette is fairly unique in how it emphasizes darker tones balanced with natural materials. They combine to create these really compelling environments. Everything is engineered towards supporting the function of the room. When we transition into the gym or the rec room, the palette shifts to brighter tones in specific spaces to encourage activity and play."
Williams said: "To me, the key elements were water and space. With water moving in the building the way it does, there's this continuous flow of motion that's recharging to people. Certain places just hit us as humans, reminding us that we're alive."
Units at Untitled are due to go on sale next year.
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